Sage has sold Lean Library, a suite of tools designed to streamline access to library content and services, to a management group with product expertise, entrepreneurial leadership, and a tech-first operating model. The transaction positions Lean Library to operate as a standalone business focused on accelerating growth and product development.
The new management team includes Daniel Horvath, who will continue as Lean Library Director, Jan Thij Bakker, co-founder of Lean Library, and Nenad Vidic, CEO of ThinkIT, the software development agency behind Lean Library’s technology. As Managing Director, Horvath will oversee the transition and day-to-day operations, with continuity of service for customers and end users expected to be maintained.
Under Sage’s ownership, Lean Library expanded from a browser extension into a multi-channel productivity tool used by hundreds of libraries globally. Over the past year, Sage has undertaken significant investments to expand the core publishing business that has driven the company for more than six decades. This strategic focus led to a reassessment of its Technology from Sage division, which included Lean Library and Talis. Talis was acquired by Kortext in October.
Sage stated that Lean Library has been developed into a global suite of products serving hundreds of institutions, with a mission centered on extending library services, increasing library visibility, and supporting the long-term sustainability of libraries. The company expressed confidence that the platform would enter a new phase of growth under ownership with dedicated technology resources and software-as-a-service expertise.
Following the sale, Sage will continue to focus on enabling resources that advance scholarship, critical thinking, and career development. Lean Library will continue concentrating on the development of technologies that support rigorously created research and resources, with future efforts expected to address areas such as open access, artificial intelligence, and research integrity.
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